Changing Directions

Once you have been in business for a few years, it is all too easy to get complacent, especially if everything is just ticking along.  But you know it can change on a dime and it is how you handle those challenges and changes that shape whether you continue to do well or continue at all.

At the recent Oprah session in Toronto, Tony Robins questioned why we don’t talk about failures.  He observed that when asked why people failed, the common complaint is lack of resources – not enough – time, money, energy or technology.  People blame resources as their excuse for failure. But he said “it’s not the lack of resources that cause failure, it’s the lack of resourcefulness that causes failure.”

Now that is food for thought.  In her book The Secret of Successfully Failing, Gina Mollicote Long talks about failure as being just feedback, and an opportunity to learn some valuable lessons so you do it differently next time.  As Thomas Edison once said “I have not failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.”

So if resourcefulness is the answer, how do you become resourceful?

  

1. Reflect.  Take yourself out of the daily routine and reflect on what you are doing, what is not working and revisit your long term vision.
   
2. Reconnect.  Ask people about what they think needs to happen. Check in with customers – what do you they need and want, it may well have changed since you started and they will be pleased you asked.   Talk to your team, they may have some great ideas.
3. Revenue.  Do the math.  Check what is bringing in the most revenue, it may have changed over the years and once-popular programs/services may no longer be as profitable.
4. Research.  What is your competition doing?  Is there a gap, overlap in what is being offered to clients?
5. Redefine.  Once you have done the above, you may find that you do have to change and refine your offering. 
   
   
6. Resources.  What resources do you need to make this new/revised offering happen?  Do you do it alone or can you form an alliance or barter with another organization to make it happen effectively.

Gaining clarity on what you do, what you offer and to whom,  can give you a roadmap to stay on the path of success.  Driving the same road over and over, means that you always reach the same destination and if you want to grow, both personally and professionally, you need to change it, because sure as anything, there will be road works and you will have to take a detour anyway.

Avoidance Not The Best Policy

We all have areas in our lives where we are a work in progress; where we need to improve and do better.

For me it is around confrontation and conflict.  I will go to great lengths to avoid both, and yet, as I learned recently, sometimes it is unavoidable and in my efforts to sidestep the issues, I not only made matters worse, but I was insensitive.

Now my husband would be quick to tell you that the root of my problems with conflict is that I am an only child, and so grew up without the dubious pleasure of sibling rivalry and thereby missed the lessons on fighting and standing your ground. He may have a point, not that I would tell him that.

What I do know is that I gravitate to harmony, and while getting better, will often choose not to voice an opinion that will be perceived negatively for the sake of peace.  I am one of the few people I know who fired someone and was so gentle in giving the message that the employee didn’t get she was being dismissed.

So you see I have a long way to go.  However, I realize that I do need to put my “big girl pants on” because in avoiding conflict and confrontations, I am not being authentic or true to myself and not being fair to the other person.

Often when we have a negative message to deliver, we do it badly.  Not because we mean to hurt the other person, but because we want it done, over with.  The trouble is that approach often leads to insensitivity to how the other person feels and the way the message is delivered can become more hurtful and do more damage than the actual message itself.

It is interesting that the latin derivative of conflict and confrontation is con – which means together.  Yet, usually it is not a joint discussion.  It can be very one-sided.

What I have learned from this is to be more aware that there are two perspectives; not to always think of myself first and when you’ve mishandled a situation, apologize.  And I did.

bizwomen: Managing Expectations

bizwomen: Managing Expectations: As I reflect back on this week, it is quite frankly a bit of a blur.  I totally overscheduled myself with two events in one day and each m...

Managing Expectations

As I reflect back on this week, it is quite frankly a bit of a blur.  I totally overscheduled myself with two events in one day and each miles apart from the other.  Why do we do this to ourselves?

My talk in Pickering had been scheduled over a year ago but the event in Cambridge was a relatively recent and quick booking and ended up on the same day because that was the only day that would work for the speaker, the venue and the facilitator – so I just decided to fit in with everyone else’s timetable.

Now, I could have chosen not to go to the luncheon, but the speaker had kindly rearranged her schedule to fit us in, and I felt my attendance was the least I could do.  But did I really need to be there?  No.   But I felt, rightly or wrongly, that she would expect me to be there.

It would seem that I am governed by my expectations of myself and my perception of the expectations that others place on me.   As a bit of a perfectionist, it is hard when people expect instant service, for example, and I just don’t physically have the hours in the day to deliver. 

Because of my hectic schedule, I know their expectations are unrealistic but I don’t share that information with them, instead I pretzel myself trying to accommodate, as otherwise I feel I have failed or let the person down. 

Perhaps also, from the outside looking in, people see what they want to see, rather than getting the true picture of what is happening in someone else’s life, not knowing or appreciating the demands on their time.  But they can’t know that unless you share the information or they take the time to find out.

So what is the answer?   I think I need to be more honest with myself and others on what can realistically be achieved.  I also have to lower my expectations and let go of the belief that I have to be everywhere, and let others, who are extremely capable, take over.

When you are a solopreneur, and apart from a few hours a week, that is basically what I am, it hard not to try to be all things to all people and as women we do so want to please.

My other piece of advice to myself -  I have to protect my Fridays, which for the past year, have been my gift to myself – time to do what I want – be it volunteer, visit friends or just read a good book.

But the only person I can change is myself.  So I am starting there.

Learn To Expect The Unexpected

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

As I watched the Oxford vs. Cambridge Boat Race, I was instantly transported back to when I was a high school student going to school in Wimbledon. At the school, the Race was a highlight of the school year, and I vividly describe to my husband how as students we were divided up into two teams, each cheering for either Oxford or Cambridge. 

To honour the occasion, we would wear a daffodil and a twig of pussywillow tied by a pale blue or navy ribbon to represent the team we were supporting. Now that was close to 50 years ago, but I remember it like yesterday.

But watching the Race this year spoke to the need for all of us to be prepared for the unexpected.  The race was half way done, and Oxford was just slightly in the lead, when a protestor swims in between the two rowing boats, bringing the race to a dramatic halt.

It was cold, and suddenly the teams had to rethink their strategy, get refocused on winning and keep their muscles moving so they didn’t seize up while they waited for instructions.  It wasn’t just their bodies that had to adjust, so did their mindset.  A true test of the athletes participating, which included men and women. Progress indeed as the Race used to be men only.

Under starter’s orders, both teams were poised and ready to bolt off, anxious to capture the lead.  In their enthusiasm, Oxford got too close to the Cambridge team, and lost an oar, which the umpire blamed on the Oxford team and so the race continued.  This basically meant game over and the Cambridge team rowed into victory.  Now the Oxford team could have chosen to stop then and there, but they didn’t, they rowed on to the finish line.

Much I am sure will be written about this race, and my hope is that the police throw the book at the protestor for spoiling such a traditional event in the UK, and which also resulted in one of the athletes being taken to hospital, exhausted by the race.

Just like the athletes, so too do business owners have to be prepared for the curveballs that may come their way.  You may be on a winning streak when suddenly out of the blue something beyond your control negatively impacts your business.  Like the rowers, you need to limber up, stay moving and if necessary, change tactics. 

Like the Oxford team, sometimes an aggressive move may not pay off and you have to be prepared to let go of the prize (for this year) and chalk it down to lessons learned, albeit the hard way. At least the team stayed in the race, heads held high and no doubt, having learned from the experience.  Just watch, they will be even more determined next year.

And that’s what you have to do too.  Persistence, passion and patience are all key ingredients in the business recipe for success.

My Dirty Little Secret

As my kids were growing up I was, I confess,  somewhat of a distracted, haphazard housewife.  I was always busy with interesting projects, juggling the kids’ activities and cooking meals for them, and then fussier dinners for my husband and I.  My life was full.

So keeping house was a low priority.  The house wasn’t super-filthy or anything, but definitely not pristine clean. I wouldn’t have encouraged you to eat anything off my floor. Forget the three-second rule in my house, if you dropped some food, you were wise to consider it a lost cause.

And my fridge seemed to harbour bearded food that likely could have walked out on its own. To this day, when the kids visit they still sniff something coming out of my fridge,  just in case. They comment that they are amazed that they didn’t get food poisoning as children, given that I was prone to be a bit cavalier about those “best by dates.”

Last fall I decided to clean out and move stuff around in my kitchen.  It wasn’t working for me, and so I rearranged the cupboards, much to my daughters’ chagrin – as if they did any cooking when they came home. I don’t think so.

But I have to say I was a little horrified to discover that my canned goods were three years past their sell-by date.  I’d got them when we moved to the farm and they sat buried at the back of one cupboard.  In fact, that was one of the reasons why I wanted to re-arrange the set-up in the kitchen. However I did wonder what would happen to you if you ate anything from the offending tins.  Maybe your hair would turn curly or I might have found some miraculous cure for the common cold. 

Well, we will never know, as I ditched the lot, feeling extremely guilty and frivolous at the same time.  After all there’s the starving in Africa, and here I was just extravagantly chucking out cans of food that had wasted away, hidden in my cupboards.

It seemed like my sordid little secret, but when I ‘fessed up to my friends, it would appear that I am not alone.  As harried mothers, those deadline dates alluded us all.  Although in fairness, much also depends on your organizational skills.  I have one friend who “files” her cans and herbs in alphabetical order. Now that seems a tad anal to me, and even if I started such a system, I could never maintain it, so why bother.

Living on a farm with a small kitchen has forced me to be more selective as to what I keep. M y focus is more on universal use so that I can improvise on a recipe when I don’t have something, as I don’t want to drive 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store.

Yes, lean and mean that’s me these days. Not all together a bad thing as at least there is less chance of food being discarded because I forgot to use it in time.  Well OK … I admit, some habits are hard to break, but you know I am much more organized now. 

And you don’t have to be nervous if I ask you for dinner, I promise. You will survive.

Sharing The Wisdom

What advice would you give to a young person starting out?

Several women entrepreneurs were sharing their wisdom at the Rotman School of Business’s Women’s Conference on Friday. Every year for the past three years, the 4^th year students have organized an all-day conference for their peers.  

As I arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel, there seemed to be a sea of young women in short navy suits and high, high heels.  (how do they walk in them?) They were mainly Commerce students and I’d helped the team this year recruit speakers for the different career panels and agreed to moderate a couple of Entrepreneur panels for them.

Most of the women on the panels were seasoned business owners and on the whole their answers were fairly consistent, except when we got to the discussion around finances.

How they tracked their finances ranged from a daily cash flow statement to an inventory count to an annual financial statement. 

But no matter how they counted their money, the panelists were all doing well and it speaks to the fact that there’s never just one way. The key is to develop a system that works for you; and if it’s not working in your favour, adjust and change. 

And as for their advice for the new entrepreneur,  a common response was to surround yourself with people who had different skill sets and strengths to yourself.  One woman went as far as to suggest hiring people brighter than yourself.  All acknowledged that while at the start you do have to be the multi-tasker and do everything yourself, once finances allowed, hiring for your weaknesses was an important first step to taking your business to the next level.

But pay yourself first was one strong recommendation.  While it may be tempting to pour all the money back into the business, it was important to get paid, and that you value your time.

Hiring and retaining the right staff was identified as another crucial element and once you had a team, determining your core values, mission and purpose became more important as creating a positive work culture impacted your end results and whether people stayed with you for the long haul.

No matter what session I sat in on, one of the questions from the young women in the audience always revolved around work-life balance.  Know what that is?  Neither do I and I guess they will find out soon enough.  Certainly when you start a business, it is your balance sheet you are more worried about, not balancing your life, that’s a lofty dream for the future.

Reality is you have to be passionate, determined and work hard if you want to succeed, and for sure, running your own business is not for everyone.

Judge Not

When I first received the invitation to be a judge at the Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) Competitions, I was so flattered and was quick to tell whoever would listen that I had been invited to be a judge.

Monday comes around and I had to check in at 7.30 am which given the time change meant I was really up at 3.30 to get ready and leave from the farm for Toronto.

When I arrive at the hotel I was quickly ushered into the room where breakfast was being served to the judges – all 250 of us!! It was at this point that I decided to check my ego at the door.  No more preening myself as a noted expert, judging a small competition.

However, it was a fascinating experience.  Students from universities and colleges from across Ontario were pitching their projects, all of which were aimed at providing entrepreneurial skills to different populations, with the goal of whetting their interest and appetite to becomie entrepreneurs; to improve the environment for their communities, individuals and themselves.

The specific program I was judging was the Students in Free Enterprise program (SIFE) and we listened to seven presentations – from five universities and two colleges.  It was all run with army-like precision, with each presenting team having an allotted time to set up, present and answer questions.

What struck me first was that only two guys were part of the presentation teams, by far the speaking was left to the young women.  The projects were diverse, but often targeted young children or youth at risk, helping to empower them to want more for themselves.  One project was aimed at artists, teaching them the business skills that are often not part of their DNA. 

Another focused on the needs of military spouses, who with their constant moves, often did not have a career of their own.  Instead they were taught business skills so they could start a portable business, that could travel with them, no matter where their partner was posted. 

Years ago I remember reading a book about youth entrepreneurship, and the author stating that immigrant youth often do well in business, because having left their country of origin, what did they have to lose and risk-taking was second nature to them. It was therefore gratifying to see immigrant youth in Toronto being part of one of the projects. 

As someone who worked for years as a community developer, I just loved the marriage of high risk communities and entrepreneurship.  What a wonderful combination and a great learning for all involved, including the judges.

A Leap of Faith

As the women sat and shared their stories of starting their businesses, you could see the heads nod and a feeling of relief enfold the group when they discovered that they were not alone with their fears and frustrations.

Starting a business is not for the faint of heart.  It takes courage and like any step into the unknown, it can be a life filled with fear, doubt and uncertainty.  It certainly does not suit someone who likes routine, with no deviation along the way.

If you are bound and determined that your business will go in a certain direction, rest assured it likely won’t.  Living with ambiguity, especially at the beginning is what it is all about.

You don’t know for sure which aspect of your business will be your ticket to success, so to make sure you have all the bases covered, often the newbie entrepreneur offers a range of programs, services or products, in the hope that at least one will prove popular and take off.

One woman confessed that there were days when she got up, she hadn’t a clue what she was going to do that day, or she would come to the end of day and question exactly what she had achieved.  Spinning your wheels was a common thread among the group, along with partners who impatiently asked when the money was going to start to come in.

That’s why belonging to a group made up of other women in similar situations can be so encouraging, because no matter the type of business, the issues and emotions are often the same, and learning that what you are going through is normal and typical, makes the situation more bearable and hopeful.  It also can make you more focused and goal-oriented when you are held accountable.

This was just the first session but I am confident in the weeks ahead this group will bond more and really start to support one another in their pursuit of their dream.

Switching Off

Mercury is definitely in retrograde!  It was quite the week last week – from computers crashing, printers taking on a life of their own, and then this weekend the Internet at the farm is not working.  

It was almost as if the powers that be had determined that we were not going to be technically connected and we therefore needed to focus our time on other work that did not rely on the Internet.

Pretty hard these days, when much of our way of communicating is by email, and people register online for our programs.  So if we have been tardy in our responses or not replied at all, now you know why.

We’re disconnected.  Hopefully normal service will resume next week.

I have to say it was quite pleasant to be “switched off” at the farm and it did force me not to spend my downtime surfing the net or posting articles on Twitter.

A friend advised me that when mercury in retrograde it is actually still moving forward, however at such a slow speed, that it gives the appearance of going in reverse. “The good thing, she pointed out, is that you get to revisit aspects of your life and take the time to consider them differently.”

Certainly this forced hiatus from the Internet has served to remind me that I need to switch off more often and curling up with a good book is a rewarding way to spend my spare time.

Leaving a Legacy

Like most people I was saddened to learn of the recent death of Whitney Houston.  It seems such a waste to see such a talented person taken from us.  As I read the tributes to her, one of her quotes stuck with me. “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”

In other words to leave a legacy; to make an impact in the lives of others.  Certainly 
Whitney did that with her beautiful voice.  What would be your legacy?  Or are you too busy living your life, juggling all that you have to do in a day to be thinking beyond the immediate demands on your time?

Certainly if you have children you are leaving a legacy.  As parents, we all want our children to grow up to become healthy, happy adults and that is not as easy as this simple sentence sounds.

Children and youth today face so many pressures and a wide range of choices, that our best hope is that we have raised them to weigh up the odds and make sound decisions. What values would you want to instill in your children?

For me, kindness, respect and thinking of others have always been important.  Perhaps because I have worked for charities and seen the darker side of life, I believe that just one person, one adult can change the outcome for a child spiraling down a path of destruction.

Naïve maybe, but so often all we want as adults and children is to be loved, to feel we are worthwhile and that someone believes in us.

As a writer and author, I would like to believe that my written words and books will be my legacy too.  My goal with Day by Day was to give a real snapshot of what it is like to run your own business; the range of emotions you feel and the thrills of being successful, despite the trials and tribulations you may have to overcome to get there.

I also know through Company of Women that the organization I created has impacted thousands of women, helping them to realize that they are not alone, that they can realize their dreams when they believe in themselves and support each other.

But all of us leave a legacy in one way or another whether we realize it or not.  Just helping a neighbour or friend has an impact.  A kind gesture can change someone’s life and sometimes we will never know that, but trust me it does. 

So as you go about your day, think about what legacy you are leaving behind.  What have you done of late to make a difference?  What have you created that will live on beyond you?

Life is too short and fragile.  Don’t wait until your deathbed to regret what you could have done, but didn’t. Do it now.

Always Moving Forward

As she stood up at the podium, Tanya Sarakinis admitted this was just her second time public speaking and asked the audience to be kind.

She needn’t have worried.  She held their attention to every word as in her modest, down-to-earth way she shared her story.  As she talked about the challenges of finding balance in her life – wanting a meaningful career while raising her children - the women were nodding their heads.  They could completely relate to this desire, it was one they all shared with her.

From a young age, Tanya had always wanted to be a nurse.  Seeing her younger brother who had spina bifida and the challenges he faced, she knew she wanted to help people feel better.  So she realized that dream and became an emergency room nurse.

After a short hiatus after the birth of her first son, she found when she went back to nursing that the quality of care provided in ERs, was just not there.  Identifying this gap in service, she set about starting a temp agency that would provide quality, trained emergency room nurses to local hospitals.

At first it was a hard sell and a bit of a catch-22.  Did she recruit the nurses first and then secure the contracts, or get the contracts and scramble to get the nurses to fill the shifts?  In the end she did a bit of both.  Then out of the blue, one hospital phoned and placed 82 shifts with her, she knew then that the business was off and running.  Tanya smiled and joked that no sooner had she hung up the phone from the hospital, than she called her husband, and said, “we’re screwed.”

But they weren’t.  Since then she has grown the business to become one of the top 200 fastest growing companies, with Tanya being listed as one of the top 100 women entrepreneurs for three years in a row.

What struck me about Tanya’s story is she never rested, sat back and said we’ve made it. No, she was always thinking ahead, like the software they had developed so hospitals, nursing managers and nurses could schedule shifts online.  Or the training she offered to nurses to bring them up-to-speed with latest technology and treatment options.

She also tackled her challenges head-on such as the slow payment turnaround at the hospitals, which with an ever-growing payroll to cover, could have dramatically impacted the business.   She negotiated that they receive prompt payment instead of the typical two to three months experienced by other service providers. 

She recognized the importance of diversifying, a lesson she learned the hard way when she lost one of her biggest accounts because of a change in hospital leadership.  As a result, she broadened her scope, partnered up with other similar organizations to deepen her offerings.

And she did all this while raising her children – now four of them.  “It is ironic that I did all this so I could have more time with my children, and that is not always the case. I have to work at it, to make sure it happens.”

Before she talked, Tanya shared with me that she wasn’t sure the women would find what she had to say of interest.  She was wrong.  The women left inspired, believing that one day maybe they too could build their businesses to become so successful.  

We all need role models to show us that it can be done.  And Tanya did just that.

Busy, busy, busy

Is it just me, or has the pace of business life just heated up a notch or two since we entered 2012

Everyone I meet seems to be complaining about how busy they are. It seems to be one meeting after another. In fact so many meetings, it is hard to keep them straight and manage your to-do list as an outcome of all these gatherings.

I guess part of it is the economy.  We are running scared.  Worried that at the next turn, our business will be the one to falter. Worried that we won’t be able to cover payroll or worried that the orders will stop trickling in.  So we work harder and harder, like a hampster on a treadmill.

Or perhaps in an effort to save money, staff have been let go and everyone has to do more to pick up the slack. This stretches all involved, with people not playing to their strengths, but just treading water so as not to drown in a sea of activity.

I am not sure what the answer is.  Fear is a tough master, demanding its pound of flesh.  What I do know is that it is overwhelming, and you end up spreading yourself too thin.  Something has to give. Instinctively we all know that there is a price to be paid for this frenetic pace of life.  The question to ask ourselves is whether it is worth it?

I am not so sure.  What do you think?

Give and Take

Copyright (c)123RF Stock Photos

At the beginning of any relationship – personal or professional – there is a tendency to skirt around the issues, each trying to impress, posture and hold your own.  But there comes a point when the honeymoon is over and you either like what you see or you don’t.

When it is a business deal that by all accounts should be working well and is a win-win for all involved, it is hard to admit that something is not right.  Take Mary, who has taken the plunge, moved her account from the tried and true to take her chances with someone, who like her, runs her business from home.

The quality of her work is great, and on paper it sounds like an ideal situation. Both are eager to be successful and keen to work with each other.

But then, seeing a great potential ahead of her, the new colleague started to get greedy.  She wanted a bit more of the action.  My friend, wisely decides to nip this in the bud, and draws up a contract, spelling out the arrangement.  

Problem solved right?  Well no.  The actual work goes well but the nickel and diming continues, to the point where Mary starts to question the wisdom of staying in business with her.  There’s a fine line between getting what you are entitled to and getting what you deserve.

Now both these women are on a learning curve to know when to push and when to back off.  Sometimes you just have to give, go that extra mile in the belief that down the road it will pay off.  It is all about give and take. But when you get greedy, you rarely win.

David vs Goliath

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

As the person who does not like driving, it is ironic that I find myself navigating my way   to work every day on the 401.

Some of my fear has gone but then when I witness a large, giant truck bullying the small car ahead of it, I remember why I don’t like to “run” with the big guys.  But does that mean that you avoid the highways, that you only take the side roads.  Probably not, it certainly would take much longer to reach your destination.

I was reminded of this the other morning when I watched a truck almost elbowing the small vehicle ahead of it into the slower lane.  At first the car resisted but as the truck menacingly persisted, the driver eventually moved over.

It’s a bit like running your small business.  Do you stay in the slow lane or do you venture forth and mingle with the big boys; with the giants who believe they own the road. 

It can be scary but one of the assets we have as small businesses is that we can move fast and be nimbler than the bureaucracy-heavy corporations.  We don’t have to check with layers of people before making a decision. And if we are savvy, we have partnered up with other small business owners, so that when a big contract comes our way, we can take it on with confidence.

One way to prepare yourself for ‘running with the wolves’ is to become part of WeConnect Canada, a non-profit organization that helps women-owned businesses become certified (and therefore recognized) by the Fortune 500 corporations, who have diversity policies.  Supplier diversity means that they have a policy in place where women-owned businesses are given the opportunity to compete for contracts.

Only two-years new to Canada, but with a sister organization in the US that has been advocating on behalf of women for years, WeConnect Canada is making inroads and truly helping women make the connections; enabling them to line up with the big boys, and in many instances, succeed in landing the contracts.

So while on the highway, it may be more prudent to just move over, when it comes to business – think big.  You have as much right as anyone else to be there.

My name is Anne. I am a social media convert

photo by neededwanted.com

When I started out in social media, I gingerly put my toe in the LinkedIn water and before very long, was swimming with a robust group, where some lively and helpful discussions were taking place.

So next was Twitter.  After all, as a busy small business owner, I could only devote so much time to this new fad - social media.  Well, fast forward a few months and I am hooked.  Actually truth be, with my addictive personality, it is sometimes hard to switch it off.

And I have had some success, proudly boasting that I have over 1,000 followers.  I have to admit, having a regular column with the Huffington Post has also helped to boost my numbers.

What I have found is that when you send out useful information/reports, peppered with just a few promotional pieces, people trust and want to follow you.  You become recognized as an expert in your field.

So what do I find to tweet about? No one really wants to know or cares what you had for breakfast.  Keep it professional, with the occasional personal tidbit, just to keep people interested.  I have subscribed to several of the topic-based daily e-newspapers. They provide a quick summary of blogs, articles and reports on your chosen topic, which in my case is women and business. 

While sometimes it does take time to scan through what is available, they are great resources.  I also add to my time commitment as I actually read the articles or blogs, before tweeting or retweeting.  One, I want to make sure the information is worthy of tweeting and will be of interest to my followers, and second, I gain useful knowledge too.

In our busy lives, these quick snippets keep me abreast of what is happening, and I am always learning something new.

Industry-related magazines such as Inc and Entrepreneur and business section of The Globe and Mail are also good sources of information for me but I am sure you know where to get the latest information on your industry.

I am often asked how long I spend on this activity and it is usually just half-an-hour a day.  I tend to do it first thing before the emails start to pour in and the phone rings off the hook. 

There’s also some Twitter etiquette to follow which can take a bit of time because when someone retweets your tweet or mentions you, it is expected that you will say “thank you.”  But if you do it at the end of the day, you can send out a one-time tweet to acknowledge everyone, rather than individual ones.

You can also use programs such as Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to program and schedule your tweets so they are spread out throughout the day.

I know… you are wondering about Facebook.  It’s on my list.  We have a Company of Women page, but I have not paid too much attention to it.  Like everyone else, the “to-do” list grows but I know from others that it will be time well-spent.

So if you are hovering about getting into social media – take it from me, the non-techy one, that once you get over your initial fears, it is worthwhile and can be another way to grow your business.

And yes, I will be tweeting this blog.

Showing Up

Years ago I remember a member complaining to me that no one had rallied to support her when she was holding a home party.  However, when I quizzed her further about her involvement in Company of Women, it turned out she hadn’t actually attended any events nor had she, prior to this invite, bothered to connect with other members.

In other words, she was missing in action and missing the point.  I responded by saying  that it was hard to provide support to someone you’ve never met.  No one knew her and she hadn’t taken the time to build any relationships.   

And that is what it is all about. Women are quite intuitive about their relationships.  Most of us can smell a “taker” at a hundred yards, although we can be mislead by seemingly kind overtures.  That sort of attitude wears thin and when it is “all about me” the path to success can be very lonely.

Many of us give willingly not expecting anything in return, and when you have that attitude invariably we do gain something – maybe not straight away – but regardless, trust that you will reap the benefits down the road.  I take great pleasure when someone does well as a result of a lead or introduction I have instigated. The person’s success is reward enough.

But you can’t expect people to know who you are or what your business does, through osmosis – you do actually have to show up.  Even if the topic is not of interest, the people attending are.

Make a date with yourself and your business to get out to networking events – if nothing else – it is a break from the four walls, a chance to meet like-minded women – and hey, who knows -  you might even have fun.

Learning Through Play

As I sat on the floor counting and sorting out Lego, my husband was shaking his head, quizzing me on why I was doing this.

It was all in preparation for an exercise we were doing at a Company of Women dinner.  Now interactive sessions are always a bit of a gamble, especially if the people there really don’t want to play.  Fortunately, the women were more than ready to tap into their creativity and go with the flow.

Divided into groups by industry, the task was for the different teams to brainstorm ways that they could work together and upon reaching consensus, build a Lego structure that would best illustrate their proposed project.

It was actually quite fascinating and served to remind me of how when we chose a career we naturally gravitate towards work that suits our personality style. I am actually a trained True Colours/Personality Dimensions Trainer but it’s not something I have done in some time, yet that’s really what we did on Tuesday night. 

We had three groups – Business to Business (B2B), Health and Beauty and Home/Finances and each model revealed the underpinnings of the participants’ personality style. 

True to form, the folks who made up the B2B group, developed a business toolbox, through which small business owners could remove the chaos in their lives. This group represented virtual assistants, bookkeepers, graphic designers and HR specialists, all of whom are organized, and detailed oriented. They’d thought through their business plan and done the math.

 At the other end of the spectrum, the Health and Beauty group which was made up of spa owners, life coaches and health service providers were more interested in reaching out and helping other women feel better about themselves. They wanted to reduce the sense of isolation for women going through  cancer, divorce, abuse, etc…    Money never even came up in the discussion.

Five minutes prior to the end of the exercise, the group,  mainly made up of financial professionals, had no sculpture on the board. Nothing.  But one of the team quickly erected a creative model that represented their project.

This group wanted to develop a website that would provide people with vital information which would assist them in connecting to professionals in the instance of a difficult life situation such as cancer diagnosis or an accident. They’d worked on revenue streams to make the project financially viable and where they differed from the Health and Beauty Team was that their project focused on providing education and information, whereas the other group wanted the women to feel better through the services provided.

 Despite their tardy start, the financial planners won.

This exercise truly reminded me of the validity of personality type programs as each group was consistent to their colour type.  The B2B group were gold – organized, structured and wanting to help, while the Health and Beauty team were blue, the colour most interested in supporting people and for whom, money is a necessary evil.  This group finds it hard to invoice or chase up payments. 

And as for the financial planners, they were green – life long learners who take a logical approach, spending more time on planning so that when they deliver, every detail has been thought through.

Now we did  have one colour missing– oranges – they would be your event planners, actors, performers or recreation specialists.

Years ago I did a similar exercise with a group of seniors, assigning them with the task of designing the perfect centre for seniors.   It was equally fascinating to see how people of all ages and backgrounds, still came forward with suggestions that were so true to their personality styles.

What did they come up with?  The oranges wanted a multi-rail system that would take them to the different recreational activities offered throughout the facility.  The blues – the romantics, wanted a dating service. The golds wanted storage space and the greens, well they were still thinking about it.

All of which goes to show that when we choose the right career for ourselves, we are being true to our personality style.

Growing Your Business

What’s the best thing you ever did for your business? I can think of a couple of steps I took. First I joined a mastermind group and later after I had been in business seven years, I hired a business coach. 

Both involved some commitment on my part. I had to invest in myself, put out some money and do the homework but the return on investment was well worth it. 

Why? With a mastermind group you quickly learn that you are not alone with your fears and frustrations. Not only do others feel the same way, but together you can learn and create some practical solutions. Helping others realize their truth is also rewarding, as you start to realize a) you do know something and b) you can be a useful resource. 

So you don’t just learn from the business coach leading the group, you benefit from the objective input from your peers. And you need to leave your ego at the door. One time I remember presenting a sponsorship package I’d crafted. I thought I’d done a pretty good job but after a few choice comments from a marketing expert in the group, I realized my work was not done and it was back to the drawing board. 

However, it is the accountability that takes you the furthest. Having to report back each month makes you do the work. Excuses won’t wash and it is hard if you have to ‘fess up that you haven’t completed the task assigned. You also build a support network for yourself, one that lasts well beyond the six-month group meetings. 

Having a business coach was the next step up, but this is not always an affordable option for everyone. Her undivided attention for an hour on my business and my challenges, was well worth the money. The process also boosted my confidence, helping me realize that actually I did have business savvy, I just needed to fine tune where I spent my time and money. 

And just like counselling, there comes a time when you don’t need that support any more and you can stand on your own two feet, happy in the knowledge that, on the most part, you are headed in the right direction. 

As you look at what you need to do this year and what you want to accomplish, I really encourage you to consider joining a mastermind group. You won’t regret it and it is well worth the investment of your time and money. And aren’t you worth it?

Company of Women has several mastermind groups starting in January and February – for the new entrepreneur, more seasoned business owner and an online group as well. Check out our website to learn more – www.companyofwomen.ca